May 5, 1999

STAMP people:

Although I was among those present at the founding of STAMP, and was active in opposing the Parkway during the first year of STAMP's existence, I have been unable to work on Charlottesville issues (non-resident that I am) for more than a year now, because of other obligations. I would, however, like to contribute something from my experience an activist to the present E-mail discussion. The involvement of planners, architects, and people with a broad vision for the future of Charlottesville's parks and transportation is all to the good. But getting bogged down in public discussion of such matters will do little to accomplish the most immediate need: TO KILL THE MEADOWCREEK PARKWAY IDEA FOREVER. Two lanes are almost as bad as four lanes, and will surely become four lanes eventually. Any road through that corridor will be a complete defeat for everything toward which STAMP has worked.

Yes, it's nice to talk about long-range plans for alternative transportation and other feel-good ideas. But such talk, no matter how firmly grounded in fact and sound reasoning, never won a single battle in the history of public opinion. One thing, and one thing only, is needed now: continued, organized, confrontational agitation against ANY parkway, aimed at those who will make the decision to build or not to build. Facts and reason are much less important than the amount of noise you can make. Officials who support the road should be mercilessly abused, shamed, ridiculed, and otherwise made to suffer pain. Those who oppose it should be praised and otherwise rewarded. Everything possible should be done to prevent the quiet, peaceful approval of the road that its supporters want. The object should be to cleave a division through the community so painful that people will remember it for decades afterward -- to turn the Parkway into an issue so hot that it permanently brands those who touch it. If necessary, lawsuits should be used as a delaying tactic until the objectionable officials can be voted out of office.

Then, when the road is defeated once and for all, there will be time to plan vanpools, speed bumps, light rail, skywalks, even canals with hydrofoils, if that will help. But not before. Remember, nice ideas are not a substitute for agitation.

That's MY somewhat more than two cents.

Jay Kardan
Conservation Chair
Sierra Club, Virginia Chapter